Parliament

Biman Prasad voted out as Chair of Public Accounts Committee

Opposition MP and NFP Leader Hon. Biman Prasad was voted out as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and in the last hour announced his resignation from the committee. Government Whip Hon. Ashneel Sudhakar was voted in as the new chair of the Public Accounts Committee after being nominated by Hon. Mohammed Dean. The vote […]

Staff Writers

May 12, 2016 11:04 am

Opposition MP and NFP Leader Hon. Biman Prasad was voted out as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and in the last hour announced his resignation from the committee.

Government Whip and the New Chairman for the Public Accounts Committee Hon. Ashneel Sudhakar outside the Committee room at the Government Buildings in Suva this morning. (Nacanieli Tuilevuka/Newswire)

Government Whip Hon. Ashneel Sudhakar was voted in as the new chair of the Public Accounts Committee after being nominated by Hon. Mohammed Dean. The vote was seconded by MP Alexander O’Connor and no objections were received.

Hon. Aseri Radrodro did not vote.

Hon. Mohammed Dean was voted in as the new Deputy Chair of the Public Accounts Committee.

In a separate press conference, Hon. Prasad announced his resignation from the committee following his removal as Chair of PAC.

PRASAD: “In most commonwealth countries, the Public Accounts Committee is chaired by a member of the opposition. The principle behind having an opposition member to be the chair was about accountability and transperancy in terms of oversite of government expenditure. This is a very regressive change in the Standing Orders.”

Hon. Biman Prasad this morning. (Parliament of the Republic of Fiji)

Hon. Prasad said that the change in the Standing orders was designed to remove him as Chair from PAC.

PRASAD: ” It didn’t come as a surprise because as you know the whole reason behind the change in the standing orders was specifically designed to remove me as Chair of the Public Accounts Committee. Tax payers of the country will be deprived of having an oversight body which is indenepent, does it work through an Opposition as Chair and puts to Parliament, will no longer be the case.”

Changes to the Parliamentary Stand Orders in February states that the Chair can be removed from the position after serving a 12-month term and be replaced by a member of the committee.

Hon. Biman Prasad served as Chairperson on the committee for more than a year.

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